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Expectant and Postpartum Moms
Can you use a pack n play as a bassinet?
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Anonymous
| Just trying to figure out why you need both . . . |
Anonymous
| You don't need both. We were in temporary housing for the first 3 months of ds's life and we used a pack n play because our crib was in storage. We used the bassinet insert and it was great because it also had the changing pad attachment. |
Anonymous
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Some moms and dads prefer the bassinet as a mini crib - so they can have it bedside, but not do the co-sleeping thing. Obviously, there are weight limits to the bassinet and, IMHO, the mattress doesn't seem very good.
The PnP can be used as a pseudo-crib. Obviously, it is bulkier than a bassinet, but it can be used for years as a play yard (or a safe place to keep small child while cooking dinner especially once mobile  ) too.
Depending on how fancy your PnP is some come with mobiles, a changing table-platform, and other extra bells and whistles. So, it is really up to you and what your life style is like. For us, we didn't waste money on the bassinet, but we did get the bare bones version of the PnP for travel and for keeping DD safe (and occupied). |
Anonymous
| Clear answer--yes, if you get one with a bassinet insert. The bassinet insert makes the bottom "floor" part of the pack n play very high so that it functions just like a bassinet. I put ours right next to the bed. I wouldn't waste money on a separate bassinet, you don't need both. Newborns grow out of any type of bassinet fairly soon (due either to their weight or that they're moving around). good luck. |
Anonymous
|
yes, you can - we did! There is a smaller, bassinet-sized version of a regular pack 'n' play. I think we got ours at babies r us? It doesn't come with the changing table, but it does have a bassinet insert. I loved it because it was so much smaller he felt more confined.
They do grow out of it quickly though! I think we moved our son to a crib around 4mos of age because he was getting too tall for the pnp. |
Anonymous
| follow-up question: I've heard people say that you shouldn't use a pack n' play as a crib substitute during the first few months because it doesn't have a hard enough surface for the baby's back. Is this problem solved when using the bassinet insert???? |
Anonymous
| We have both. A cradle by our bed, and a PnP with bassinet insert in the living room. We are borrowing the cradle. To me, the PnP bassinet mattress seems too insubstantial for her to sleep in all night. She takes naps in it by day, but it sags and does not seem that well constructed. I've been disappointed in that feature actually, and ours is a new PnP. Our baby is light also - just 8 lbs. now at 6 weeks, so it's not her weight that is making it sag. |
Anonymous
Are you sure you've set it up correctly? We've never had this problem with our PnP bassinet and we're on our second child. Both times, we used the bassinet up to the 15 pound weight limit. |
Anonymous
| We used the CoSleeper and loved it. It has a frame insert that raises the mattress to the height of the bed. When you take out the frame, it's like a regular pack n' play. We've been the most impressed with the quality, it's much sturdier and well constructed than other pack and plays I've seen. We got the bigger one (not the "mini") and still use it as a travel bed for our 19mo (who's over 33 inches tall.) |
Anonymous
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I'd borrow one to try it out if you can. We bought one of the nicer ones with the intent that our DC would use it as a bassinet (and possibly even a crib as our friend's child did for the first year). Our DC HATED the PNP and we never use it. She's not mobile yet, so it might come in handy then as some of the PP suggested.
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Anonymous
| mine hated the (borrowed) bassinet and ended up loving her crib at a month old. this time we have a co-sleeper so hopefully the second baby will be happy there. i really don't think you need a bassinet. do whatever's easiest. |